Christmas is my favorite time of the year! I love the fact that there are so many people open to hearing of Christ’s love.

There are so many things that make Christmas wonderful, like spending time with your family, the ample opportunity to love on others, and all the celebrating, Christmas parties at work, school, in the neighborhood, at church, in the community… they are everywhere!

For me, Christmas brings back such great memories. I remember the road trips to grandma’s house, the cookies that my grandpa used to make, my favorite are those Russian Tea Cakes! I remember the thrill of picking out our Christmas tree, and decorating it as mom played Christmas carols on the piano, or the Carpenter’s Christmas record, and of course I loved the presents. I think half the fun was trying to figure out what we were getting, one thing that was never a surprise, new underwear! (thanks Mom)

I loved being in the church Christmas play every year, I got to be Joseph a lot, that was fun, I am just glad that I was never a cow! I remember all the band and choir Christmas concerts, and the fun we had, and oh I remember when I was in high school, singing in the Madrigal singing group, I wasn’t thrilled about having to wear tights though! Ewwwwwww!

As an adult, I have a whole bunch of new reasons to love Christmas. Christmas was the first time I kissed my wife. It is a blast surprising our kids with gifts under the tree, there was that one year though where we found out they peeked… we weren’t happy! Watching all of their Christmas plays and concerts, and being the dad who pointed out, “that’s my kid!” I can only hope that our kids will have as fond of memories as I did growing up!

I have lost both my parents now, sadly, both of them passed during the Holidays, which makes it especially hard. It makes me realize just how important it is to make the most of every moment that we are given. I hope that you have an amazing Christmas this year, may the Peace ushered in by the birth of Jesus be with you and your family, and may you soak in every moment!

Here's a few shots from tobyMac's visit to the K-LOVE studios. Toby spent a little hang time in the studio with us, and he shared about everything from whether he was a Coke or Pepsi guy, Pepsi, by the way, to where he was spending Christmas. He also shared about how much fun they have been having on the Winter Wonder Slam Tour! For the first time in a long time, he did some Freestyle rapping, and we will post the video here on the blog, in case you missed it, or want to share it with your friends!!! He will be closing out the Winter Wonder Slam tour in Phoenix, AZ, and he wants everyone that's coming to wear their Ugly Christmas Sweaters!!! Oh Yeahhhh! Got a picture of you in your ugly Christmas Sweater... Post it!!!

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